CN113544427B

CN113544427B - Pipe joint, piping construction management system, and piping construction management method

Info

Publication number: CN113544427B
Application number: CN202080019236.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 饭塚建郎
Original assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Current assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-07
Filing date: 2020-02-17
Publication date: 2022-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-17
Also published as: TW202044105A; JP2020143754A; CN113544427A; WO2020179421A1; TWI742553B; JP7233977B2

Abstract

A pipe joint (1) is provided with an insertion space (16) for inserting a pipe body from one side in the axial direction, and is provided with: an insertion confirmation member (3) which is housed in the insertion space and which is configured so as to be movable in the insertion space by thrust received from the tube body (4) when the tube body is inserted into the insertion space; and a window portion (15 a) that enables visual confirmation from the outside of only a portion in the axial direction in the insertion space, wherein a joint identification code (CC) containing information relating to the pipe joint is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member, and the pipe joint is configured such that: when the pipe body is inserted into the insertion space, at least a part of the joint identification code cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion while the insertion confirmation member is located on one side in the axial direction from the predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space.

Description

Pipe joint, piping construction management system, and piping construction management method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pipe joint used for a pipe used for water supply, hot water supply, or the like, a pipe construction management system, and a pipe construction management method.

Background

As a conventional pipe joint, there is a pipe joint configured to be able to visually confirm connection between the pipe joint and a pipe body (for example, patent document 1).

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-72155

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the above-described pipe joint, only a person who is at a position where the pipe joint can be visually checked can perform connection confirmation.

The invention aims to provide a pipe joint which enables a person at a position where the pipe joint cannot be seen to easily confirm connection, and a piping construction management system and a piping construction management method which enable the person at the position where the pipe joint cannot be seen to easily confirm connection.

Means for solving the problems

A pipe joint according to the present invention is a pipe joint in which an insertion space for inserting a pipe body from one side in an axial direction is formed, the pipe joint including:

an insertion confirmation member that is housed in the insertion space, the insertion confirmation member being configured to be movable in the insertion space by a thrust received from the pipe body when the pipe body is inserted into the insertion space; and

a window portion that enables visual confirmation from the outside only of a portion in the axial direction in the insertion space,

wherein a joint identification code including information on the pipe joint is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member,

the pipe joint is configured such that, when the pipe body is inserted into the insertion space, at least a part of the joint identification code cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion while the insertion confirmation member is positioned on one side in the axial direction from a predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space, and when the insertion confirmation member reaches the predetermined position, the entire joint identification code can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion.

The first piping construction management system of the present invention comprises a plurality of pipe joints as described above, a plurality of pipe bodies as described above, a reading section, a processing section, and an output section,

wherein the reading unit is configured to be able to read the joint identification code,

the processing unit is configured to cause the output unit to output a construction completion report when it is determined that the reading unit has read the joint identification codes of all of the plurality of pipe joints.

A first piping construction management method according to the present invention is a piping construction management method using the first piping construction management system according to the present invention, including the steps of:

a connector identification code reading step in which the reading section reads the connector identification code; and

a construction completion report output step of causing the processing unit to output a construction completion report when the reading unit determines that the joint identification codes of all of the plurality of pipe joints have been read.

The second piping construction management system of the present invention includes: a plurality of pipe joints each formed with an insertion space for inserting a pipe body from one side in an axial direction; a plurality of said tubes; a reading section; a processing unit; a storage unit; and an output section for outputting the output signal,

wherein each of the plurality of pipe joints includes:

a joint identification code containing information on each of the pipe joints is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member of each of the plurality of pipe joints,

a pipe identification code including information on each of the plurality of pipes is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the plurality of pipes,

the pipe joint and the pipe body are configured as follows: when the pipe is inserted into the insertion space, at least a part of the pipe identification code cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window while the insertion confirmation member is positioned on one side in the axial direction from a predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space, and when the insertion confirmation member reaches the predetermined position, the entire joint identification code and the entire pipe identification code can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window,

the reading unit is configured to be able to read the joint identification code and the pipe body identification code,

the storage unit stores correspondence information in which the joint identification codes of the plurality of pipe joints and the pipe body identification codes of the plurality of pipe bodies correspond to each other,

the processing unit is configured to cause the output unit to output a connection completion report when it is determined that the reading unit continuously reads the pair of the joint identification code and the pipe identification code corresponding to the correspondence information.

A second piping installation management method of the present invention is a piping installation management method using the second piping installation management system of the present invention described above, including the steps of:

a connector identification code reading step in which the reading section reads the connector identification code;

a tube body identification code reading step in which the reading section reads the tube body identification code;

a connection completion report output step of causing the output unit to output a connection completion report when the processing unit determines that the reading unit has continuously read the pair of the joint identification code and the pipe body identification code corresponding to the correspondence information.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pipe joint that enables a person at a position where the pipe joint cannot be visually checked to easily confirm connection, and a piping construction management system and a piping construction management method that enable a person at a position where the pipe joint cannot be visually checked to easily confirm connection.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in section, showing a pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the pipe joint body portion of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion confirmation member of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 (a) is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a part of the pipe joint of fig. 1 in a state where the pipe body is inserted into the insertion space, and fig. 4 (b) is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a part of the pipe joint of fig. 1 in a state where the pipe body is inserted into the insertion space.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a pipe joint according to a first modification of the present invention which can constitute the pipe construction management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a piping construction management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an insertion confirmation member and a pipe body of a pipe joint according to a second modification example of the present invention which can constitute a pipe construction management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a pipe joint and a pipe body according to a second modification of the present invention which can constitute the pipe construction management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in a state where both are connected.

Detailed Description

The pipe joint, the pipe construction management system, and the pipe construction management method according to the present invention can be suitably used for pipes used for water supply, hot water supply, and the like, for example.

Embodiments of a pipe joint, a piping construction management system, and a piping construction management method according to the present invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the common components in the drawings.

[ pipe connection ]

First, an embodiment of a pipe joint according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5 and 7 to 8.

Fig. 1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining a pipe joint 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pipe joint 1 of the present embodiment includes a pipe joint body 2 and an insertion confirmation member 3. The pipe joint main body portion 2 is a portion of the pipe joint 1 other than the insertion confirmation member 3.

Fig. 1 shows a state before the pipe body 4 is inserted into the pipe joint 1. In fig. 1, the upper side with respect to the pipe axis O of the pipe joint 1 shows a cross section of the pipe joint 1 in the axial direction, and the lower side with respect to the pipe axis O shows a side surface of the pipe joint 1. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the pipe joint main body portion 2 of fig. 1, showing a state before the pipe joint main body portion 2 is assembled with the insertion confirmation member 3 in manufacturing the pipe joint 1. Fig. 3 shows the insertion confirmation member 3 of fig. 1. Fig. 4 (a) shows a part of the pipe joint 1 in fig. 1 in a state where the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, and fig. 4 (b) shows a part of the pipe joint 1 in fig. 1 in a state where the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16.

In the present specification, the pipe axis O of the pipe joint 1 is a central axis of a pipeline divided inside the pipe joint 1. The axial direction of the pipe joint 1 refers to a direction parallel to the pipe axis O of the pipe joint 1. In the present specification, a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pipe joint 1 is referred to as an "axial direction". In the present specification, the "inner peripheral side" of the pipe joint 1 refers to a side of the pipe joint 1 closer to the pipe axis O, and the "outer peripheral side" of the pipe joint 1 refers to a side of the pipe joint 1 farther from the pipe axis O. In the present specification, the circumferential direction and the radial direction when the pipe axis O of the pipe joint 1 is set as the center are simply referred to as "circumferential direction" and "radial direction", respectively.

In this example, an insertion connection port 18 is formed on one side in the axial direction of the pipe joint 1, and the insertion connection port 18 is configured to be connected to the pipe body 4 by being inserted into the pipe body 4 from one side in the axial direction. The pipe body 4 connectable to the insertion connection port 18 is preferably a resin pipe, for example, and particularly preferably a water supply and hot water supply pipe made of polybutene or crosslinked polyethylene.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the inlet side (one side in the axial direction in fig. 1 and 2) of the pipe joint 1 inserted into the connection port 18 is referred to as "first side in the axial direction", and the rear side (the other side in the axial direction in fig. 1 and 2) inserted into the connection port 18 is referred to as "second side in the axial direction".

In the example of fig. 1 and 2, the pipe joint 1 is formed in a substantially I-shape (substantially in a straight line as a whole). However, the pipe joint 1 may be formed in any shape such as a substantially L-shape, a substantially T-shape, a substantially Y-shape, or a substantially cross-shape.

In the example shown in the drawings, the pipe joint 1 has only 1 insertion connection port 18, but the pipe joint 1 may have a plurality of insertion connection ports 18.

The pipe joint body 2 of this example includes a body member 17, an outer cylinder member 15, a seal member 14, a cap 11, a locking claw 13, and a resin ring 12.

The main body member 17 is formed in a tubular shape, and defines a conduit (flow path) for a fluid such as water or hot water by its inner peripheral surface. The body member 17 is made of, for example, metal (e.g., brass) or resin.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the body member 17 of this example has an axial direction first side portion 171 located on an axial direction first side, an axial direction second side portion 172 located on an axial direction second side, and an axial direction intermediate portion 176 located between the axial direction first side portion 171 and the axial direction second side portion 172.

The first axial portion 171 of the main body member 17 constitutes an inner cylindrical portion (hereinafter, also referred to as "inner cylindrical portion 171"). The outer cylinder member 15 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the body member 17. More specifically, the axial second side portion 152 of the outer cylindrical member 15 is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the main body member 17. The extending portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 extending from the second axial side portion 152 toward the first axial side is separated from the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17 on the outer circumferential side of the inner cylindrical portion 171 to form an outer cylindrical portion (hereinafter, also referred to as "outer cylindrical portion 151"). An annular insertion space 16 is defined between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15. The insertion space 16 is open on a first side in the axial direction and closed on a second side in the axial direction, and the pipe body 4 is inserted from the first side in the axial direction to the second side in the axial direction.

As shown in fig. 1, the insertion confirmation member 3 is disposed in the insertion space 16.

In the present specification, a direction in which the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, i.e., a direction from the first side of the axial direction to the second side of the axial direction along the axial direction, is referred to as an "insertion direction ID", and a direction in which the pipe body 4 is pulled out from the insertion space 16, i.e., a direction from the second side of the axial direction to the first side of the axial direction along the axial direction, is referred to as an "extraction direction PD".

The inner cylinder portion 171, the seal member 14, the outer cylinder portion 151, the cap 11, the locking claws 13, and the resin ring 12 constitute an insertion connection port 18.

An insertion space 16 is formed at each insertion connection port 18. When the pipe joint 1 is assumed to have a plurality of insertion connection ports 18, one insertion space 16 is formed in each of the insertion connection ports 18.

In this example, as shown in fig. 1, a threaded portion 172a formed of a tapered male screw or a parallel male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second side portion 172 in the axial direction of the body member 17, and is configured to be threadably connected to a pipe member (not shown) having a tapered female screw or a parallel female screw. However, the present invention is not limited to the example shown in the drawings, and a threaded portion 172a formed of a tapered female screw or a parallel female screw may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second axial side portion 172, and may be configured to be threadably coupled to a pipe member (not shown) having a tapered male screw or a parallel male screw. Alternatively, the insertion connection port 18 may be formed also in the second axial side portion 172 of the body member 17, similarly to the first axial side portion 171 of this example.

In this example, as shown in fig. 2, the axial intermediate portion 176 of the body member 17 has a torque input portion 173, a small diameter portion 174, and a large diameter portion 175, which are provided in this order from the second side in the axial direction to the first side in the axial direction. The torque input portion 173 of the body member 17 is constituted by: the outer peripheral surface of the shaft has a substantially polygonal shape (substantially hexagonal shape in the example of the figure), and thus torque from a tool such as a wrench (screwdrivers) can be reliably input. The small diameter portion 174 of the body member 17 has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameters of the torque input portion 173 and the large diameter portion 175. The axial second side portion 152 of the outer cylindrical member 15 is fitted by press-fitting onto the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 174 of the main body member 17, and the axial second side portion 152 of the outer cylindrical member 15 is restricted from moving in the axial direction by the torque input portion 173 and the large diameter portion 175 of the main body member 17. The large diameter portion 175 of the main body member 17 has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first axial side portion (inner cylindrical portion) 171 of the main body member 17. An end surface of the large diameter portion 175 on the first side in the axial direction defines an end of the insertion space 16 on the second side in the axial direction.

Further, the body member 17 may not have the torque input portion 173 (fig. 2).

As shown in fig. 2, in this example, one or more annular grooves 171a each extending in the circumferential direction are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17. In the example of the figure, 2 annular grooves 171a are provided at positions different from each other in the axial direction, but the number of the annular grooves 171a may be only 1, or may be 3 or more. In the example of the figure, the annular groove 171a is located at an intermediate position in the axial direction in the insertion space 16, and at a position overlapping with the outer cylindrical portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 in the axial direction. An annular seal member 14 extending in the circumferential direction is housed in each annular groove 171a. The sealing member 14 is formed of, for example, an O-ring. The outer cylindrical portion 151 faces the annular grooves 171a and the seal members 14 in the radial direction.

As shown in fig. 2, in a state where the insertion confirmation member 3 and the pipe body 4 are not arranged in the insertion space 16, the outer diameter of the seal member 14 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17. As shown in fig. 4 (b), when the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, the seal member 14 is compressively deformed so as to be in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the pipe body 4, thereby fluid-sealing the space between the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 171 and the inner circumferential surface of the pipe body 4.

The outer cylindrical member 15 is a cylindrical annular member, and is disposed on the outer circumferential side of the main body member 17 and on the inner circumferential side of the cap 11. The outer cylindrical member 15 is made of, for example, resin. In this example, the outer cylindrical member 15 is made of a transparent material. As a material constituting the outer tube member 15, for example, transparent nylon can be cited.

As shown in fig. 2, the inner diameter of the axial second side portion 152 of the outer cylindrical member 15 is smaller than the inner diameter of the extension portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15, and is smaller than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 175 of the body member 17.

The extended portion (outer cylindrical portion) 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 is located adjacent to the outer circumferential side of the insertion space 16, in other words, the extended portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 defines the end of the outer circumferential side of the insertion space 16. A stopper protrusion 151c formed of a circumferentially extending ridge is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the extending portion (outer cylindrical portion) 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15. In the example of the figure, the stopper protrusion 151c of the outer cylindrical member 15 is located on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the large diameter portion 175 of the main body member 17. In the example shown in the figure, the stopper projection 151c extends over the entire circumference, i.e., is formed in a ring shape. Further, a pair of

fitting protrusions

151a and 151b each including a protrusion extending in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the extending portion (outer cylindrical portion) 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 on the first side in the axial direction from the stopper protrusion 151c at positions different from each other in the axial direction. In the example shown in the figure, the

fitting projections

151a and 151b each extend over the entire circumference, i.e., are formed in a ring shape.

The cap 11 is made of, for example, resin, and is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is provided on the outer peripheral side of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17. As shown in fig. 2, the second axial side portion 112 of the cap 11 is press-fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the first axial side portion of the extending portion (outer cylindrical portion) 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15 with respect to the stopper protrusion 151c. In this example, the cap 11 is made of an opaque material.

Further movement of the cap 11 to the second side in the axial direction is restricted by the end surface of the second side in the axial direction of the cap 11 contacting the stopper projection 151c of the outer cylindrical member 15.

A pair of

fitting recesses

112a, 112b each formed of a groove extending in the circumferential direction are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the second side portion 112 of the cap 11 in the axial direction at different positions from each other in the axial direction. In the example shown in the figure, the

fitting recesses

112a and 112b extend over the entire circumference, i.e., are formed in a ring shape. The

fitting recesses

112a, 112b of the cap 11 are fitted with the

fitting projections

151a, 151b of the outer cylindrical member 15, respectively.

The axial first side portion 111 of the cap 11 is located on the axial first side of the outer cylindrical member 15.

As described above, in this example, the outer cylindrical member 15 is transparent and the cap 11 is opaque, so that the portion of the axial direction region of the outer cylindrical member 15 from the end on the second side in the axial direction of the cap 11 to the end on the second side in the axial direction of the insertion space 16 (i.e., the end on the first side in the axial direction of the large diameter portion 175) forms the window portion 15a, which window portion 15a enables only a part in the axial direction in the insertion space 16 to be visually confirmed from the outside of the pipe joint 1. More specifically, in this example, the window portion 15a can be used to visually confirm only the portion of the insertion space 16 in the same axial direction region as the window portion 15a (i.e., the axial direction region from the end on the second side in the axial direction of the cap 11 to the end on the second side in the axial direction of the insertion space 16) from the outer peripheral side of the pipe joint 1. The portion of the insertion space 16 from the end on the second side in the axial direction of the cap 11 to the first side in the axial direction is covered with the opaque cap 11 on the outer peripheral side thereof, and therefore cannot be visually confirmed from the outer peripheral side of the pipe joint 1.

In this example, the window 15a is formed in a ring shape, in other words, the window 15a extends over the entire circumference of the pipe joint 1. Thereby, the portion in the axial direction in the insertion space 16 can be visually confirmed from an arbitrary position in the circumferential direction via the window portion 15 a.

The locking pawl 13 is, for example, a metal ring-shaped member. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the locking claw 13 has a substantially V-shaped cross section in the axial direction of the pipe joint 1, and more specifically, has a substantially V-shaped shape that is bent in the lateral direction and protrudes to the first side in the axial direction. The locking claw 13 has a claw portion 13a at its inner peripheral side end portion.

The locking claws 13 are arranged on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the outer cylindrical member 15 on the inner peripheral side of the first axial direction portion 111 of the cap 11 and on the outer peripheral side of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the body member 17, and are positioned adjacent to the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16. The outer peripheral end of the locking pawl 13 is disposed in the gap between the outer cylindrical member 15 and the cap 11.

Although not shown, slits opened in the outer peripheral edge of the locking pawl 13 and slits opened in the inner peripheral edge of the locking pawl 13 are alternately provided in the locking pawl 13 in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the locking claws 13 are configured to be elastically deformable in the diameter expansion direction. A plurality of pawl portions 13a separated from each other in the circumferential direction by slits opened in the inner peripheral end edges of the locking pawls 13 are formed at the inner peripheral side end portions of the locking pawls 13.

Each claw portion 13a faces the inner peripheral side and the second side in the axial direction (the back side of the insertion space 16).

As shown in fig. 2, in a state where the insertion confirmation member 3 and the pipe body 4 are not disposed in the insertion space 16, the inside diameter of the locking pawl 13 (the diameter at the tip of the pawl portion 13 a) is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 151 of the outer cylindrical member 15, and the pawl portion 13a protrudes into the insertion space 16. As a result, as shown in fig. 4 (b), when the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, the locking claw 13 is configured such that the claw portion 13a is recessed into the outer peripheral surface of the inserted pipe body 4.

The lock pawl 13 may have any configuration as long as it has a substantially V-shape in cross section in the axial direction as described above. For example, the locking claws 13 may not have slits formed in the outer peripheral edges of the locking claws 13.

The resin ring 12 is made of, for example, resin and is an annular member. The resin ring 12 is disposed on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the locking claws 13 on the inner peripheral side of the cap 11 and on the outer peripheral side of the inner cylindrical portion 171. The resin ring 12 is adjacent to the insertion space 16 on the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16, in other words, the end of the resin ring 12 on the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16 is defined. Of the

annular members

12, 13, 15 (the resin ring 12, the locking claws 13, the outer cylinder member 15) disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cap 11 and on the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16, the resin ring 12 is disposed closest to the first side in the axial direction.

As described later, the resin ring 12 has a function (releasing function) capable of releasing the trapping of the locking claws 13 in the pipe body 4.

In the pipe joint 1 configured as described above, as shown in fig. 4 (b), when the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, the claw portions 13a of the locking claws 13 slightly sink into the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 4. At this time, the space between the inner circumferential surface of the pipe body 4 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 171 of the main body member 17 is sealed by the sealing member 14. In this way, the pipe body 4 is connected to the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1 by one-way insertion (insertion only).

On the other hand, when the pipe body 4 is to be removed from the pipe joint 1, a jig (not shown) is inserted into the cap 11 in the axial direction from the first side in the axial direction toward the resin ring 12, and the resin ring 12 is pushed in to the second side in the axial direction. Then, the resin ring 12 presses the claw portion 13a of the locking claw 13 to release the depression of the claw portion 13a in the pipe body 4. When the pipe body 4 is pulled out to the first side in the axial direction in this state, the pipe body 4 can be removed from the pipe joint 1.

As shown in fig. 3, in this example, the insertion confirmation member 3 is formed in a ring shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. The insertion confirmation member 3 may be made of any material, for example, resin or metal. One or more joint identification codes CC containing information about the pipe joint 1 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3. In the example shown in the figure, a plurality of identical splice identification codes CC are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The joint identification code CC is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 by, for example, being printed (printed) on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3, or by attaching a sticker printed (printed) with the joint identification code CC on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3.

The linker identification code CC is preferably any type of code configured to allow the information stored in the linker identification code CC to be read by a device, and is preferably a two-dimensional code or a one-dimensional code, for example. The two-dimensional code is a code of a display form for holding information in two directions orthogonal to each other, and examples thereof include a matrix code such as a QR code (registered trademark) and a stack code such as PDF 417. The one-dimensional code is a code of a display mode for holding information in one direction, and examples thereof include bar codes such as JAN. In the example of the figure, the joint identification code CC is a QR code (registered trademark).

Examples of the device for reading the connector identification code CC (hereinafter also referred to as "reading device") include a dedicated device (such as a code reader or a code scanner) configured to read the connector identification code CC, and a terminal (such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal) equipped with an application program configured to read the connector identification code CC. Preferably, the reader is configured to be able to transmit information acquired by reading the joint identification code CC (and further transmit information stored in the joint identification code CC. Hereinafter, also referred to as "read information") and/or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report, which will be described later) to the outside by wireless communication and/or wired communication. Fig. 6, which will be described later, shows a reader terminal 51 as an example of a reader device.

The information about the pipe joint 1 included in the joint identification code CC may be any information, but for example, information for specifying the type of the pipe joint 1, identification information unique to the pipe joint 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as "unique identification information of the pipe joint 1") provided for each pipe joint 1, identification information unique to the insertion connection port 18 provided for each insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1, and the like are preferable. Examples of the information for specifying the type of the pipe joint 1 include a product number of the pipe joint 1, a size of the pipe joint 1 (a diameter (for example, a nominal diameter) of a pipe body 4 connected to the pipe joint 1, and the like), identification information given for each type of the pipe joint 1, and the like. The identification information may be, for example, identification information constituted by a character string or 1 character, the 1 character being constituted by any one of a numeral, an english character and a symbol, and the character string being constituted by at least any one of a numeral, an english character and a symbol. The joint identification code CC preferably contains at least information for specifying the kind of the pipe joint 1 and/or unique identification information of the pipe joint 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the insertion confirmation member 3 is housed in the insertion space 16. The insertion confirmation member 3 is disposed in the insertion space 16 so that the joint identification code CC cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a in a state where the pipe body 4 is not inserted into the insertion space 16. Specifically, the insertion confirmation member 3 is arranged such that the joint identification code CC is positioned on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the window portion 15a in this state.

Further, the insertion confirmation member 3 is configured such that the insertion confirmation member 3 is temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16 in a state where the pipe body 4 is not inserted into the insertion space 16, thereby preventing the insertion confirmation member 3 from moving in the insertion space 16 only by the action of gravity when the pipe joint 1 is tilted, and the insertion confirmation member 3 can move in the insertion space 16 by a thrust received from the pipe body 4 when the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16.

The insertion confirmation member 3 is temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16 by engaging with at least one (both in the example of fig. 1) of the locking claws 13 and the sealing member 14, for example. More specifically, in the example of fig. 1, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 is engaged with the claw portion 13a of the lock claw 13, and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 is engaged with the first side seal member 14 in the axial direction of the pair of seal members 14, whereby the insertion confirmation member 3 is held between the claw portion 13a of the lock claw 13 and the seal member 14, and the insertion confirmation member 3 is temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16. However, not limited to the example of fig. 1, in a state where the pipe body 4 is not inserted into the insertion space 16, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 may engage with the claw portions 13a of the lock claws 13, and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 may engage with the inner cylindrical portion 171, whereby the insertion confirmation member 3 is held between the claw portions 13a of the lock claws 13 and the inner cylindrical portion 171, and the insertion confirmation member 3 may be temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16. Alternatively, in a state where the pipe body 4 is not inserted into the insertion space 16, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 may be engaged with at least one of the pair of sealing members 14, and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 may be engaged with the outer cylinder 151, whereby the insertion confirmation member 3 is held between the sealing members 14 and the outer cylinder 151, and the insertion confirmation member 3 may be temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16. In this manner, when the insertion confirmation member 3 is temporarily fixed in the insertion space 16 by engaging with at least one of the locking claws 13 and the sealing member 14, the insertion confirmation member 3 can be assembled only by pushing the insertion confirmation member 3 into the insertion space 16 of the pipe joint body portion 2, which is manufactured in advance, from the first side in the axial direction to a position where it engages with at least one of the locking claws 13 and the sealing member 14 using a jig (not shown) or the like at the time of manufacturing the pipe joint 1, and therefore, the manufacturing of the pipe joint 1 becomes easy.

As a method of temporarily fixing the insertion confirmation member 3 in the insertion space 16, a method different from the above-described method may be used.

In the pipe joint 1 configured as described above, when the operator inserts the pipe body 4 into the insertion space 16 from the first side in the axial direction to the second side in the axial direction, the pipe body 4 contacts the insertion confirmation member 3 and then (fig. 4 (a)) presses the insertion confirmation member 3 to the second side in the axial direction, whereby the temporary fixation of the insertion confirmation member 3 in the insertion space 16 is released and the pipe joint moves to the second side in the axial direction in the insertion space 16. At this time, while the insertion confirmation member 3 is located on the first side in the axial direction from the predetermined position of the insertion space 16, at least a part of the joint identification code CC provided on the insertion confirmation member 3 cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a, and when the insertion confirmation member 3 reaches the predetermined position of the insertion space 16, the entire joint identification code CC is located on the inner peripheral side of the window portion 15a (at the same axial direction position as the window portion 15 a), and the entire joint identification code CC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a ((b) of fig. 4). Since the entire connector identification code CC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a, the connector identification code CC can be read by a reading device through the window portion 15 a.

Here, the predetermined position is preferably a position at which the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 are appropriately connected when the insertion confirmation member 3 is pushed into the position by the pipe body 4. From such a viewpoint, the predetermined position is preferably an arbitrary position such that, for example, the end of the insertion confirmation member 3 on the first side in the axial direction is positioned on the second side in the axial direction with respect to the sealing member 14 provided on the second side in the axial direction among the sealing members 14 of the pipe joint 1, and more preferably, the predetermined position is such that the end of the insertion confirmation member 3 on the first side in the axial direction is positioned on the second side in the axial direction with respect to the sealing member 14 on the second side in the axial direction and the end of the insertion confirmation member 3 on the second side in the axial direction is positioned on the end of the insertion space 16 on the second side in the axial direction (in the example of fig. 2, the end of the large diameter portion 175 on the first side in the axial direction).

As described above, the pipe joint 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that, when the pipe body 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, at least a part of the joint identification code CC cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a while the insertion confirmation member 3 is positioned on one side in the axial direction from the predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space 16, and when the insertion confirmation member 3 reaches the predetermined position, the entire joint identification code CC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15 a. Thus, when the operator who performs the operation of connecting the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 inserts the pipe body 4 into the pipe joint 1, the operator can easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed by simply confirming that the entire joint identification code CC can be visually confirmed through the window portion 15 a. Further, after the entire joint identification code CC can be visually confirmed through the window portion 15a, a person (operator or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 can be viewed can read the joint identification code CC through the reading device via the window portion 15a, and therefore, for example, by transmitting the read information of the joint identification code CC or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report to be described later) or the like to the outside, the person (for example, a construction manager or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be viewed can be made to view the read information of the joint identification code CC or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report to be described later). Thus, not only can a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 can be visually checked easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed, but also a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed, and further, connection confirmation with high objectivity can be performed. Thus, for example, a person (e.g., a construction manager or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized can easily perform management of pipe installation. Further, since the joint identification code CC includes information relating to the pipe joint 1, the person who is at the position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually confirmed can easily identify the pipe joint 1 whose connection has been completed only by viewing the read information of the joint identification code CC or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report described later), and therefore, even at the position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually confirmed, highly reliable connection confirmation can be performed.

In general, when a pipe joint (and hence a pipe body) has a large diameter (for example, a nominal diameter of the pipe joint is about 30 to 50), since a flow rate is large, if a connection state between the pipe joint and the pipe body is not appropriate, damage may become large, and a large number of large-diameter pipe joints are often used in a piping construction site. Therefore, when the pipe joint has a large diameter, there is a particularly great demand for a worker on the site to be able to confirm the connection between the pipe joint and the pipe body and also for a worker (construction manager or the like) at a position remote from the site to be able to confirm the connection. Therefore, the pipe joint 1 of the present embodiment is preferable because it can respond to these needs particularly when the pipe joint 1 is formed to have a large diameter. In addition, when the pipe joint 1 of the present embodiment is configured to have a large diameter, the radius of curvature of the cross section in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 can be increased accordingly, and therefore, it is easy to secure a space for providing the joint identification code CC on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3 and to read the joint identification code CC with a reading device.

However, the pipe joint 1 of the present embodiment may be configured to have a relatively small diameter (for example, a nominal diameter of the pipe joint is less than 30).

As described above, in the example shown in fig. 3 and 4, a plurality of identical joint identification codes CC are arranged in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3. Thereby, compared to the case where only one joint identification code CC is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3, the following fear can be reduced: in a state where the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 are connected, the operator or the like cannot visually confirm or read the position of the joint identification code CC due to the environment around the pipe joint 1, the orientation of the pipe joint 1, or the like. In other words, it is possible to increase the position where at least one of the joint identification codes CC can be visually confirmed by an operator or the like or read by a reading device, and therefore, the reading operation for the joint identification code CC is easy.

However, only one joint identification code CC may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member 3.

As described above, the linker identification code CC is preferably a two-dimensional code or a one-dimensional code. In this case, the joint identification code CC can be made smaller and the width in the axial direction of the insertion confirmation member 3 can be made narrower by that amount, and sufficient information can be stored in the joint identification code CC.

The joint identification code CC preferably contains unique identification information of the pipe joint 1. Thus, a person (construction manager or the like) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized can specifically identify not only the type of the pipe joint 1 that has been connected, for example, but also the individual by simply viewing the read information of the joint identification code CC or information obtained based on the read information (connection completion report or the like).

From the same viewpoint, the joint identification code CC preferably includes identification information unique to the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1. Thus, a person (construction manager or the like) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized can specifically specify not only the type or solid of the pipe joint 1 that has been connected, for example, but also the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1, simply by viewing the read information of the joint identification code CC or information obtained based on the read information (connection completion report or the like). This is particularly advantageous in the case of a pipe fitting 1 having a plurality of insertion connection ports 18.

When the pipe joint 1 has a plurality of insertion connection ports 18, the insertion confirmation member 3 may be provided only on a part of the insertion connection ports 18 among the plurality of insertion connection ports 18, or may be provided on all the insertion connection ports 18.

When the pipe joint 1 has a plurality of insertion connection ports 18 and the pipe joint 1 has a plurality of insertion confirmation members 3, the same joint identification code CC may be provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of insertion confirmation members 3, or joint identification codes CC different for each insertion confirmation member 3 (and further for each insertion connection port 18) may be provided.

Here, the pipe joint 1 according to the first modification of the present invention will be described mainly focusing on differences from the pipe joint 1 according to the example of fig. 1 to 4 described above with reference to fig. 5. In the pipe joint 1 of the first modification shown in fig. 5, the information about the pipe joint 1 stored in the joint identification code CC includes the same information as the information described about the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M. It is particularly preferable that the joint identification code CC includes unique identification information of the pipe joint 1, and the unique identification information is the same as the unique identification information described for the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M. In the example of fig. 5, the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1 includes unique identification information (in the example of the figure, the unique identification information is formed by the numbers "1", "12", etc.) of the pipe joint 1, and the unique identification information is the same as the unique identification information described in the piping diagram M in association with the pipe joint 1. Thus, a person (construction manager or the like) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized can easily identify the position of the pipe joint 1 whose connection has been completed by comparing the read information of the joint identification code CC or information (connection completion report or the like) obtained based on the read information with the pipe map M, and thus can easily grasp which part of the pipe joint 1 in the pipe map M has been constructed.

Further, a display 19 showing unique identification information of the pipe joint 1 is provided on an outer surface (for example, an outer peripheral surface of the cap 11) of the pipe joint 1 of the first modification shown in fig. 5. Thus, the operator who performs the operation of connecting the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 can easily distinguish the plurality of pipe joints 1 of the same type and different types of unique identification information from each other, and can more accurately and easily perform the operation of each pipe joint 1 to a predetermined position in accordance with the piping diagram M. If an operator mistakenly carries out construction of the pipe joint 1 at a predetermined construction site of another pipe joint 1 of the same type as the pipe joint 1 and having different unique identification information, there is a possibility that: information that construction has been completed for a site different from the actual site based on the read information from the reading device and the piping diagram M is transmitted to a person (construction manager or the like) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be seen. In this regard, according to the present example, such a fear can be reduced.

The indication 19 may be provided on the outer surface of the pipe joint 1 by, for example, printing on the outer surface of the pipe joint 1 (for example, the outer peripheral surface of the cap 11) or by attaching a label on which the identification information is printed (printed) on the outer surface of the pipe joint 1.

However, in the first modification, the pipe joint 1 may not have the display 19.

In each of the other examples described in the present specification, it is preferable that the pipe joint 1 has the display 19 when the joint identification code CC includes the unique identification information of the pipe joint 1.

Alternatively, when the joint identification code CC includes identification information unique to the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1, the identification information unique to the insertion connection port 18 is preferably the same as the unique identification information described in the piping drawing M in association with the insertion connection port 18. In this case, it is preferable that a display 19 showing identification information unique to the insertion connection port is provided on an outer surface (for example, an outer peripheral surface of the cap 11) of the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1.

Further, as one use example of the pipe joint 1 according to the first modification, the piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

Next, referring to fig. 7 and 8, a pipe joint 1 according to a second modification of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the pipe joint 1 according to the example of fig. 1 to 4 described above. A pipe joint 1 of a second modification shown in fig. 7 and 8 is configured to be connected to a pipe body 4 having a pipe body identification code PC on its outer peripheral surface, in addition to an insertion confirmation member 3 having a joint identification code CC on its outer peripheral surface in an insertion space 16 as in the example of fig. 1 to 4. The pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 are configured as follows: when the pipe 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, while the insertion confirmation member 3 is positioned on the first side in the axial direction from the predetermined position of the insertion space 16, at least a part of the pipe identification code PC cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a (as for the joint identification code CC, the entire joint identification code CC may or may not be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15 a), and when the insertion confirmation member 3 reaches the predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space 16, the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe identification code PC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15 a. Since the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe body identification code PC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15a, the joint identification code CC and the pipe body identification code PC can be read by a reading device through the window portion 15a, respectively. Preferably, the pipe body 4 is cut to a predetermined length in advance before being connected to the pipe joint 1.

In the example shown in fig. 7 and 8, a plurality of identical pipe body identification codes PC are arranged in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe body 4. However, only one pipe identification code PC may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 4. The pipe identification code PC may be provided only on one of the two ends of the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 4 in the axial direction, or the same or different pipe identification codes PC may be provided on the two ends.

The pipe identification code PC is preferably any type of code capable of reading information stored in the pipe identification code PC by a device, and is preferably a two-dimensional code or a one-dimensional code described above with respect to the joint identification code CC, for example. The pipe body identification code PC is preferably the same kind of code as the joint identification code CC. In the example shown in the figure, the pipe body identification code PC is a QR code (registered trademark) as the joint identification code CC.

The reading device for reading the body identification code PC is the same as the reading device for reading the connector identification code CC described above.

The tube body identification code PC contains information about the tube body 4. The information about the pipe 4 included in the pipe identification code PC may be any information, but is preferably information for specifying the type of the pipe 4, identification information unique to the pipe 4 given to each pipe 4 (hereinafter also referred to as "unique identification information of the pipe 4"), and/or identification information unique to the end of the pipe 4 given to each end in the axial direction of the pipe 4. Examples of the information for specifying the type of the pipe 4 include the size of the pipe 4 (the diameter (for example, the nominal diameter) of the pipe 4, the length of the pipe 4, and the like), identification information given for each type of the pipe 4, and the like. The identification information may be, for example, identification information constituted by a character string or 1 character, the 1 character being constituted by any one of a numeral, an english, and a symbol, and the character string being constituted by at least any one of a numeral, an english, and a symbol. Preferably, the tube identification code PC contains at least information for identifying the type of the tube 4.

With this configuration, when the operator who performs the operation of connecting the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 inserts the pipe body 4 into the pipe joint 1, the operator can easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed by simply confirming that the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe body identification code PC can be visually confirmed through the window portion 15 a. Further, after the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe body identification code PC can be visually confirmed through the window portion 15a, a person (operator or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 can be viewed can sequentially read the joint identification code CC and the pipe body identification code PC through the window portion 15a by a reading device, and thus, a person (for example, a construction manager or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be viewed can see the read information of each of the joint identification code CC and the pipe body identification code PC or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report described later). Accordingly, not only a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 can be visually checked can easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed, but also a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can easily confirm that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 is completed, and further, connection confirmation with high objectivity can be performed. Further, since the joint identification code CC includes information on the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body identification code PC includes information on the pipe body 4, the person who is at the position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can easily identify the pair (combination) of the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 whose connection has been completed only by viewing the read information of the joint identification code CC and the pipe body identification code PC or information obtained based on the read information (for example, a construction completion report and a connection completion report to be described later), and therefore, even at the position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked, it is possible to perform connection confirmation with higher reliability.

In the second modification, as in the first modification, it is preferable that the information about the pipe joint 1 stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1 includes the same information as the information described about the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M, and it is preferable that the information about the pipe body 4 stored in the pipe body identification code PC of the pipe body 4 includes the same information as the information described about the pipe body 4 in the piping diagram M. In particular, it is more preferable that the joint identification code CC includes unique identification information of the pipe joint 1, and the unique identification information is the same as the unique identification information described for the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M. More preferably, the pipe identification code PC includes unique identification information of the pipe 4, and the unique identification information is the same as the unique identification information described for the pipe 4 in the piping diagram M.

In the second modification, as in the first modification, it is preferable that a display 19 showing unique identification information of the pipe joint 1 is provided on an outer surface (for example, an outer peripheral surface of the cap 11) of the pipe joint 1, and that a display showing unique identification information of the pipe body 4 is provided on an outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the pipe body 4.

Further, as one use example of the pipe joint 1 according to the second modification, the piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 7 and 8.

In each of the above examples, the insertion confirmation member 3 is not limited to the annular shape, and may be formed to extend in the circumferential direction and be discontinuous in the circumferential direction. In this case, the insertion confirmation member 3 may be formed in a C-shape or a circular arc shape in a cross section in the axial direction, for example. The insertion confirmation member 3 is not limited to being formed of 1 member, and may be formed of a plurality of members arranged in the circumferential direction.

In the above-described embodiments, the window portion 15a formed in the pipe joint body portion 2 may be configured to be visually recognizable from the outside only in a part in the axial direction in the insertion space 16, and may have any configuration.

For example, the window portion 15a is not limited to being provided annularly over the entire circumference, and may be provided only at 1 location or a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. However, when the ring is provided over the entire circumference, the following fears can be eliminated: in a state where the joint identification code CC (and/or the pipe body identification code PC) is located at the same position in the axial direction as the window portion 15a, the window portion 15a and the joint identification code CC (and/or the pipe body identification code PC) are different in position in the circumferential direction and the joint identification code CC (and/or the pipe body identification code PC) cannot be visually confirmed through the window portion 15a, and therefore, it is preferable to provide the joint identification code CC (and/or the pipe body identification code PC) in an annular shape over the entire circumference.

In the example shown in fig. 2, the window portion 15a is located at an axial direction position overlapping with the end on the second side in the axial direction of the insertion space 16, and thus a part of the insertion space 16 including the end on the second side in the axial direction can be visually recognized from the outside. However, the window portion 15a may be positioned on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the end on the second side in the axial direction of the insertion space 16, and thus, only a part of the insertion space 16 on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the end on the second side in the axial direction may be visually confirmed from the outside.

In each of the above examples, the window 15a may be formed in any portion of the pipe joint main body 2 on the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16, as long as the axial position of the insertion confirmation member 3 is set in such a manner that the entire joint identification code CC (and/or the entire pipe body identification code PC) can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window 15a and the entire joint identification code CC (and/or the entire pipe body identification code PC) cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window 15 a. For example, the window 15a may be formed in the outer tube 151 and the cap 11 (specifically, the axial second side portion 112) at an axial position where the outer tube 151 and the cap 11 overlap in the radial direction.

The outer cylindrical member 15 is not limited to being entirely made of a transparent material, and only a portion constituting the window portion 15a may be made of a transparent material, and the other portion may be made of an opaque material.

The window portion 15a is not limited to being made of a transparent material, and may be made of an opening (hole). In this case, for example, the outer cylinder member 15 may be made of an opaque material, and the window 15a may be made of an opening (hole) penetrating the outer cylinder 151 in the radial direction.

In each of the above examples, the resin ring 12 of the pipe joint 1 has a function (releasing function) of releasing the trapping of the locking claws 13 in the pipe body 4, but the resin ring 12 may not have the releasing function. In this case, although not shown, for example, the resin ring 12 may be configured not to have a release function by having an engagement portion that is located on the first side in the axial direction with respect to the cap 11 and that faces the cap 11 in the axial direction. In this case, even if the resin ring 12 is pushed toward the second side in the axial direction by using a jig or the like, the engagement portion comes into contact with the cap 11 to restrict the relative movement of the resin ring 12 to the second side in the axial direction with respect to the cap 11, and therefore, the resin ring 12 can be prevented from pressing the claw portions 13a of the locking claws 13. Since the resin ring 12 does not have a releasing function, the pipe body 4 cannot be removed by a jig or the like.

In general, when a pipe joint (and a pipe) has a large diameter, the pipe is not removed from the pipe joint after the pipe is connected to the pipe joint. Therefore, when the pipe joint 1 (and further the pipe body 4) has a large diameter, it is preferable that the resin ring 12 does not have a release function.

In each of the above examples, the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1 has an inner surface water stop structure configured to stop water between the pipe body 4 and the pipe joint 1 by the sealing member 14 contacting the inner circumferential surface of the pipe body 4.

However, in each of the above examples, the insertion connection port 18 of the pipe joint 1 may have an outer surface water stop structure configured to stop water between the pipe body 4 and the pipe joint 1 by the sealing member 14 contacting the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 4. In this case, the sealing member 14 is disposed adjacent to the insertion space 16 on the outer peripheral side of the insertion space 16. In this case, the inner tube portion 171 may not be provided, and the insertion space 16 may be defined by, for example, the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube portion 151.

[ piping construction management System and piping construction management method ]

Next, an embodiment of a piping construction management system and a piping construction management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 8.

First embodiment

Fig. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the first embodiment of the present invention correspond to the "first piping construction management system according to the present invention" and the "first piping construction management method according to the present invention", respectively, described above.

The piping installation management system 5 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of pipe joints 1 (fig. 5) according to the first modification described above, a plurality of pipe bodies 4, a reader terminal 51, and a remote terminal 52.

The structure of the pipe joint 1 according to the first modification is as described above with reference to fig. 5. That is, the information about the pipe joint 1 stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1 includes the same information as the information described about the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M. In particular, it is preferable that the joint identification code CC includes unique identification information of the pipe joint 1, and the unique identification information is the same as the unique identification information described for the pipe joint 1 in the piping diagram M. Preferably, a display 19 indicating unique identification information of the pipe joint 1 is provided on an outer surface of the pipe joint 1 (for example, an outer peripheral surface of the cap 11). Each of the plurality of pipe bodies 4 is cut into a predetermined length in advance.

The reading terminal 51 is a reading device used by a person (e.g., an operator) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 can be viewed, for reading the joint identification code CC. The reading terminal 51 is configured as, for example, a dedicated device (a code reader, a code scanner, or the like) configured to read the connector identification code CC, a terminal (a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or the like) having an application program configured to be able to read the connector identification code CC, or the like. The reading terminal 51 includes, for example, a communication unit 511, a processing unit 512, a storage unit 513, a reading unit 514, a display unit 515, and an input unit 516.

The reading unit 514 is configured to be able to read the splice identification code CC. More specifically, the reading unit 514 is configured to be able to read the information stored in the joint identification code CC by, for example, capturing the joint identification code CC and analyzing the image obtained thereby.

The communication unit 511 is constituted by a communication interface, for example. The reader terminal 51 is configured to be capable of performing wireless communication and/or wired communication with the remote terminal 52 through the communication unit 511.

The processing unit 512 is constituted by a CPU, for example. The processing unit 512 executes a program stored in the storage unit 513, for example, to control the entire reading terminal 51. In this example, the processing unit 512 is configured to transmit, to the remote terminal 52, the read information obtained by reading the splice identification code CC by the reading unit 514 (and further, to transmit the information stored in the splice identification code CC) by using the communication unit 511. The read information from the reader terminal 51 to the remote terminal 52 is transmitted, for example, in accordance with an input operation performed by the input unit 516 after the reader unit 514 has read the splice identification code CC or at a predetermined timing (for example, immediately after the splice identification code is read).

The storage section 513 is constituted by, for example, a ROM and/or a RAM. The storage unit 513 stores programs to be executed by the processing unit 512, various information to be used by the processing unit 512, and the like. The storage unit 513 may be configured to store the read information obtained by the reading unit 514, so that the reading terminal 51 can internally hold the read information until the time of transmitting the read information to the remote terminal 52, for example.

The display unit 515 is configured by, for example, a display, a monitor, or the like. While the reading unit 514 is performing the process of reading the joint identification code CC, the display unit 515 displays, for example, an image of the joint identification code CC captured by the reading unit 514 or read information read from the joint identification code CC by the reading unit 514, in accordance with the control performed by the processing unit 512.

The input unit 516 is configured to receive an operation of the reader terminal 51 by a user. The input unit 516 is constituted by, for example, a button, a key, and the like. The input portion 516 and the display portion 515 may constitute a touch panel.

The remote terminal 52 is a device used by a person (e.g., a piping construction manager) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be viewed, and is configured to output read information read by the read terminal 51 or information obtained based on the read information (a construction completion report, a connection completion report, and the like). The remote terminal 52 is configured as, for example, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. The remote terminal 52 includes, for example, a communication unit 521, a processing unit 522, a storage unit 523, an output unit 524, and an input unit 525.

The communication unit 521 is constituted by a communication interface, for example. The remote terminal 52 is configured to be capable of performing wireless communication and/or wired communication with the reader terminal 51 through the communication unit 521.

The processing unit 522 is constituted by a CPU, for example. The processing unit 522 executes a program stored in the storage unit 523, for example, to control the entire remote terminal 52. In this example, the processing unit 522 is configured to receive the read information from the read terminal 51 via the communication unit 521. In the present example, when determining that the reading unit 514 of the reading terminal 51 has read the joint identification codes CC of all of the plurality of pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5, the processing unit 522 generates a construction completion report and causes the output unit 524 to output the construction completion report. The construction completion report is a report indicating that all the pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 have been appropriately connected to the pipe body 4.

The storage unit 523 is constituted by, for example, a ROM and/or a RAM. The storage unit 523 stores a program to be executed by the processing unit 522, various information used by the processing unit 522, and the like. In this example, the storage unit 523 stores information on each pipe joint 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5. The information about each pipe joint 1 stored in the storage unit 523 is the same as the information about each pipe joint 1 stored in the joint identification code CC of each pipe joint 1. Preferably, the storage unit 523 is configured to store the read information received from the reading terminal 51. Preferably, the storage unit 523 is configured to store the construction completion report generated by the processing unit 522.

The output unit 524 is configured to output various information (for example, a construction completion report, a connection completion report, and read information) in accordance with control performed by the processing unit 522. The output unit 524 outputs these pieces of information, and a user (for example, a piping installation manager) of the remote terminal 52 can view the pieces of information.

The output of the information by the output unit 524 may be realized by any method.

For example, the output unit 524 may include a display unit 524a configured by a display, a monitor, or the like. For example, the processing unit 522 may be configured to cause the output unit 524 to output information by causing the display unit 524a of the output unit 524 to display information.

Further, the output unit 524 may include a site output unit 524b configured to output information to a predetermined WEB site. In this case, the processing unit 522 may be configured to cause the output unit 524 to output information by causing the site output unit 524b of the output unit 524 to output information to the predetermined WEB site. In this case, the output unit 524 preferably includes a display unit 524a in addition to the site output unit 524b. In this case, the processing unit 522 may be configured to: for example, when the predetermined WEB site is accessed by an input operation of the input unit 525 performed by a user (for example, a piping construction manager), the display unit 524a of the output unit 524 displays information on the predetermined WEB site, and the output unit 524 outputs the information. Further, it is possible to access the predetermined WEB site from any terminal (the reading terminal 51 or another terminal) other than the remote terminal 52 and browse the construction completion information on the WEB site.

The output section 524 may include a printing section 524c capable of printing on a medium such as paper. In this case, the processing unit 522 may be configured to cause the output unit 524 to output information by causing the printing unit 524c to print information on a medium such as paper.

In fig. 6, the display portion 524a, the website output portion 524b, and the printing portion 524c are shown as the configuration of the output portion 524 for easy understanding, but as described above, the output portion 524 may have only 1 or 2 of the display portion 524a, the website output portion 524b, and the printing portion 524c, or may be configured differently from any of the display portion 524a, the website output portion 524b, and the printing portion 524c.

The input unit 525 is configured to receive an operation of the remote terminal 52 by a user. The input unit 525 is configured by, for example, buttons, keys, and the like. In addition, when the output unit 524 includes the display unit 524a, the input unit 525 and the display unit 524a may constitute a touch panel.

Here, an example of the piping construction management method of the first embodiment using the piping construction management system 5 of the first embodiment described above will be described.

First, at the construction site of the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4, the operator connects each pipe joint 1 to a predetermined pipe body 4 in accordance with the piping diagram M.

The operator reads the joint identification code CC while operating the input unit 516 of the reading terminal 51 with respect to the pipe joint 1 in which the entire joint identification code CC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window 15a by inserting the pipe body 4. At this time, the reading unit 514 of the reading terminal 51 reads the splice identification code CC in response to an input operation to the input unit 516, and acquires the information stored in the splice identification code CC as read information (a splice identification code reading step). While the reading unit 514 performs the joint identification code reading step, the processing unit 512 causes the display unit 515 to display an image of the joint identification code CC captured by the reading unit 514, or causes the display unit 515 to display read information read by the reading unit 514 from the joint identification code CC. A connector identification code reading step is performed for each connector identification code CC.

After the connector identification code reading step, the processing section 512 of the reading terminal 51 transmits the read information obtained by the connector identification code reading step to the remote terminal 52 via the communication section 511 (transmitting step). The transmitting step is performed for each of the connector identification code reading steps. The transmission step may be performed, for example, when an input operation for instructing transmission is performed via the input unit 516, or may be performed when a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, immediately after the completion of the connector identification code reading step).

On the other hand, the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 receives the read information transmitted from the read terminal 51 in the transmission procedure via the communication unit 521 (reception procedure). In the reception step, the processing unit 522 may store the received read information in the storage unit 523.

After the reception step, the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 determines whether or not the reading unit 514 of the reading terminal 51 has read the joint identification codes CC of all of the plurality of pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 (construction completion determination step). For example, the construction completion determination step is performed for each reception step. In the construction completion determination step, for example, when the read information (and further, the information stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1) received in all the reception steps performed up to this point matches the information on each pipe joint 1 (and further, the information stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1) stored in advance in the storage unit 523 in a 1-to-1 manner, the processing unit 522 determines that the read unit 514 of the read terminal 51 reads the joint identification codes CC of all the pipe joints 1 constituting the plurality of pipe joints 1 of the piping construction management system 5, and on the other hand, determines that the joint identification codes CC which have not been read by the read unit 514 of the read terminal 51 exist among the joint identification codes CC of all the pipe joints 1 constituting the plurality of pipe joints 1 of the piping construction management system 5 in a case other than the above case, and waits until the next reception step.

In the construction completion determination step, when the processing unit 522 determines that the reading unit 514 has read the joint identification codes CC of all of the plurality of pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5, the processing unit 522 generates a construction completion report (construction completion report generation step), and causes the output unit 524 to output the construction completion report (construction completion report output step). As described above, the construction completion report is a report indicating that all the pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 have been appropriately connected to the pipe body 4. In this example, the construction completion report preferably includes a message indicating that all the pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 have properly completed connection to the pipe body 4, for example. In this example, the construction completion report preferably includes information on all the pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 (for example, information stored in the joint identification codes CC of the respective pipe joints). Thus, a user (e.g., a piping installation manager) of the remote terminal 52 can easily grasp that all of the plurality of pipe joints 1 constituting the piping installation management system 5 have been properly connected to the pipe 4 even when the user is located at a position remote from the construction site.

According to the present embodiment, as described above, a person (e.g., a piping work manager) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can easily confirm the connection.

In the first embodiment, after the receiving step, the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 may generate a connection completion report (connection completion report generating step), and cause the output unit 524 to output the connection completion report (connection completion report outputting step). The connection completion report is a report indicating that the pipe joint 1 (in this example, the pipe joint 1 corresponding to the read information received in the reception step) has been appropriately connected to the pipe body 4. In this example, the connection completion report preferably includes, for example, a message indicating that the pipe joint 1 has properly completed connection to the pipe body 4. In this example, the connection completion report preferably includes, for example, information about the pipe joint 1 (for example, information stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint). For example, the connection completion report generation step and the connection completion report output step may be performed for each reception step, and the connection completion report generation step and the connection completion report output step may be performed after the reception step and in parallel with the construction completion determination step or before the construction completion determination step.

In this case, a person (for example, a piping construction manager) who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can easily grasp which pipe joint 1 of the plurality of pipe joints 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5 has properly completed the connection to the pipe body 4 (and can grasp which part of the piping diagram M has completed the construction) even at a position distant from the construction site, simply by comparing the connection completion report output from the output portion 524 of the remote terminal 52 with the piping diagram M.

In each of the examples described above with respect to the first embodiment, the processing unit 512 and the storage unit 513 of the reader terminal 51 may have a part or all of the functions of the processing unit 522 and a part or all of the functions of the storage unit 523 of the remote terminal 52, respectively.

For example, the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51 may perform the construction completion determination step and/or the connection completion determination step (instead of the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52). In this case, the storage unit 513 of the reader terminal 51 stores information about the pipe joint 1 stored in the joint identification code CC of each pipe joint 1 constituting the piping construction management system 5. In this case, the construction completion determination step and/or the connection completion determination step may be performed for each joint identification code reading step. In this case, the construction completion report generation step and/or the connection completion report generation step may be performed by the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 or may be performed by the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51. In this example, the construction completion report output step and/or the connection completion report output step are performed by the output unit 524 of the remote terminal 52.

Alternatively, in each of the examples described above with respect to the first embodiment, an output unit (not shown) provided in the reader terminal 51 may have a part or all of the functions of the output unit 524 of the remote terminal 52, and the processing unit 512 and the storage unit 513 of the reader terminal 51 may have all of the functions of the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 and all of the functions of the storage unit 523, respectively. In this case, the piping construction management system 5 may not include the remote terminal 52.

Thus, for example, in a case where the display portion 515 of the reader terminal 51 constitutes an output portion in the same manner as the display portion 524a of the remote terminal 52 described above, when the reader terminal 51 is transported to a person (for example, a construction manager or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized, the person can confirm connection by viewing a construction completion report and/or a connection completion report displayed on the display portion 515 of the reader terminal 51. Alternatively, when the output unit of the reading terminal 51 includes the site output unit 524b, a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can access the predetermined WEB site from any terminal (the reading terminal 51, the remote terminal 52, or another terminal) and view the construction completion report and/or the connection completion report displayed on the terminal to confirm connection. Alternatively, in the case where the output unit of the reading terminal 51 includes the printing unit 524c, when a medium such as paper on which a construction completion report and/or a connection completion report is printed by the printing unit 524c is transported to a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized, the person can confirm connection by viewing the construction completion report and/or the connection completion report printed on the medium such as paper.

Second embodiment

Fig. 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the second embodiment of the present invention correspond to the "second piping construction management system according to the present invention" and the "second piping construction management method according to the present invention", respectively, described above. The piping construction management system 5 and the piping construction management method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below mainly focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

The piping construction management system 5 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of pipe joints 1 (fig. 7 and 8) according to the second modification described above, a plurality of pipe bodies 4 (fig. 7 and 8) configured to be connected to the pipe joints 1, a reading terminal 51, and a remote terminal 52.

The structure of the pipe joint 1 according to the second modification and the structure of the pipe body 4 configured to be connected to the pipe joint 1 are as described above with reference to fig. 7 and 8. That is, the pipe joint 1 includes the insertion confirmation member 3 having the joint identification code CC provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof in the insertion space 16. The pipe 4 is provided with a pipe identification code PC on its outer circumferential surface. The pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 are configured as follows: when the pipe 4 is inserted into the insertion space 16, at least a part of the pipe identification code PC cannot be visually confirmed from the outside through the window 15a while the insertion confirmation member 3 is located on the first side in the axial direction from the predetermined position of the insertion space 16, and when the insertion confirmation member 3 reaches the predetermined position in the axial direction of the insertion space 16, the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe identification code PC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window 15 a. Each of the plurality of pipe bodies 4 is cut into a predetermined length in advance.

The reading terminal 51 basically has the same structure as that described with reference to fig. 6 in the first embodiment.

However, the reading unit 514 is configured to be able to read the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC, respectively.

In this example, the storage unit 513 stores beforehand correspondence information in which the joint identification codes CC of the plurality of pipe joints 1 and the pipe body identification codes PC of the plurality of pipe bodies 4 constituting the piping installation management system 5 are in one-to-one correspondence.

In this example, when the reading unit 514 determines that the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC corresponding to each other in the correspondence information stored in the storage unit 513 is continuously read, the processing unit 512 is configured to generate a connection completion report and transmit the connection completion report to the remote terminal 52 via the communication unit 511. When determining that the reading unit 514 has read all pairs of the joint identification codes CC and the pipe body identification codes PC corresponding to the correspondence information, the processing unit 512 is configured to generate a construction completion report and transmit the construction completion report to the remote terminal 52 via the communication unit 511.

The remote terminal 52 basically has the same structure as that described with reference to fig. 6 in the first embodiment.

However, in this example, the processing unit 522 is configured to cause the output unit 524 to output the connection completion report when receiving the connection completion report from the reader terminal 51 via the communication unit 521. Further, the processing unit 522 is configured to cause the output unit 524 to output the construction completion report when the construction completion report is received from the reading terminal 51 via the communication unit 521.

Here, an example of the piping construction management method according to the second embodiment using the piping construction management system 5 according to the second embodiment will be described.

The operator reads the joint identification code CC and reads the pipe body identification code PC in sequence while operating the input unit 516 of the reading terminal 51 with respect to the pipe joint 1 into which the pipe body 4 is inserted and the entire joint identification code CC and the entire pipe body identification code PC can be visually confirmed from the outside through the window portion 15 a. At this time, the reading unit 514 of the reader terminal 51 reads the connector identification code CC in response to an input operation to the input unit 516, acquires the information stored in the connector identification code CC as read information (connector identification code reading step), and also reads the pipe body identification code PC, and acquires the information stored in the pipe body identification code PC as read information (pipe body identification code reading step). As to the order of the joint identification code reading step and the pipe body identification code reading step, either may precede the other. While the reading unit 514 performs the joint identification code reading step and the pipe identification code reading step, the processing unit 512 causes the display unit 515 to display an image of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC captured by the reading unit 514, or causes the display unit 515 to display read information read by the reading unit 514 from the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC. A connector identification code reading step is performed for each connector identification code CC. And a step of reading the pipe body identification code aiming at each pipe body identification code PC.

After the connector identification code reading step and the pipe body identification code reading step, processing unit 512 determines whether or not reading unit 514 continuously reads a pair of connector identification code CC and pipe body identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information stored in storage unit 513 (connection completion determining step). In the connection completion determination step, for example, when it is determined that the reading unit 514 continuously reads the pair of joint identification codes CC and the pipe identification codes PC corresponding to the correspondence information in the joint identification code reading step and the pipe identification code reading step within a predetermined time, the processing unit 512 determines that the pair of joint identification codes CC and the pipe identification codes PC corresponding to the correspondence information are continuously read. Here, "continuously reading the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC" means: between the time when the reading unit 514 reads the joint identification code CC and the time when the reading unit 514 reads the tube identification code PC, the reading unit 514 does not read another joint identification code CC or another tube identification code PC. At this time, the processing unit 512 does not ask the reading unit 514 the order (which may be the first order) in which the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe body identification code PC are read. When the reading unit 514 reads the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC of a pair (combination) different from the pair (combination) corresponding to the correspondence information within the predetermined time, or when the reading unit 514 reads only one of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC within the predetermined time, the processing unit 512 determines in the connection completion determination step that the reading unit 514 does not continuously read the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information. The "predetermined time" is preferably, for example, 60 seconds to 180 seconds.

In the connection completion determination step, by using the time restriction such as the predetermined time, it is possible to prevent an improper action of the user (operator or the like) who reads the terminal 51, and it is possible to more accurately ensure that the processing unit 512 determines that the reading unit 514 continuously reads the pair of joint identification code CC and pipe body identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information only when the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 are appropriately connected. Further, by using the time restriction such as the predetermined time, it is possible to clearly identify which of the joint identification codes CC read in the joint identification code reading step and which of the pipe identification codes PC read in the pipe identification code reading step should be compared with the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information.

However, the connection completion determination step does not need to use the time limitation of the predetermined time.

In the connection completion determination step, when determining that the reading unit 514 has continuously read the pair of joint identification code CC and pipe identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information, the processing unit 512 of the reading terminal 51 generates a connection completion report (connection completion report generation step), and transmits the connection completion report to the remote terminal 52 via the communication unit 511 (connection completion report transmission step). On the other hand, when receiving the connection completion report via the communication unit 521 (connection completion report receiving step), the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 causes the output unit 524 to output the connection completion report (connection completion report output step). In this example, the connection completion report is a report that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 (specifically, the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 corresponding to the pair of joint identification codes CC and the pipe body identification code PC) has been properly completed. In this case, the connection completion report preferably includes, for example, a message indicating that the connection between the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 has been properly completed. The connection completion report preferably includes, for example, information related to the pipe joint 1 (for example, information stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint) and information related to the pipe body 4 (for example, information stored in the pipe body identification code PC of the pipe body 4). Thus, the user of the remote terminal 52 (for example, a piping installation manager) can easily grasp whether or not the connection between any pair of the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 among all the pairs of the pipe joints 1 and the pipe bodies 4 constituting the piping installation management system 5 has been properly completed (and further, for example, can grasp which portion of the piping map M the installation has been completed) even at a position far from the installation site, simply by comparing the connection completion report output from the output unit 524 of the remote terminal 52 with, for example, the piping map M.

On the other hand, when the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51 determines in the connection completion determination step that the reading unit 514 has not continuously read the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information, the processing unit causes the display unit 515 to display error information (error information display step). Thus, a user (for example, an operator) who reads the terminal 51 can immediately recognize a failure such as connection of the pipe joint 1 and the pipe body 4 in an incorrect combination, and can perform construction anew as necessary.

In this example, the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51 determines whether or not the reading unit 514 has read all pairs of the joint identification codes CC and pipe body identification codes PC corresponding to the correspondence information stored in the storage unit 513 (construction completion determining step). For example, when the processing unit 512 of the reading terminal 51 determines in the connection completion determination step that the reading unit 514 continuously reads the pair of the joint identification code CC and the pipe identification code PC corresponding to the correspondence information, the construction completion determination step is performed.

When it is determined in the construction completion determination step that the reading unit 514 has read all the pairs of the joint identification codes CC and the pipe body identification codes PC corresponding to each other in the correspondence information stored in the storage unit 523, the processing unit 512 generates a construction completion report (construction completion report generation step), and transmits the construction completion report to the remote terminal 52 via the communication unit 511 (construction completion report transmission step). On the other hand, when receiving the construction completion report via the communication unit 521 (construction completion report receiving step), the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 causes the output unit 524 to output the construction completion report (construction completion report output step). In this example, the construction completion report is a report indicating that the connection between all the pipe joints 1 and the pipe bodies 4 in a pair constituting the piping construction management system 5 has been properly completed. In this example, the construction completion report preferably includes a message indicating that the connection between all the pipe joints 1 and the pipe bodies 4 in a pair constituting the piping construction management system 5 has been properly completed, for example. The construction completion report preferably includes, for example, information about each pair of pipe joints 1 (for example, information stored in the joint identification code CC of the pipe joint 1) and information about the pipe body 4 (for example, information stored in the pipe body identification code PC of the pipe body 4) for each pair (combination) constituting the piping construction management system 5. Thus, the user of the remote terminal 52 (for example, a piping construction manager) can easily grasp that the connections of all the paired pipe joints 1 and pipe bodies 4 constituting the piping construction management system 5 have been properly completed even at a position remote from the construction site simply by viewing the construction completion report output from the output unit 524 of the remote terminal 52.

In the second embodiment, the connection completion report output step (and further the connection completion report generation step, the connection completion report transmission step, and the connection completion report reception step) may not be performed.

In each of the examples described above with respect to the second embodiment, the processing unit 522 and the storage unit 523 of the remote terminal 52 may have a part of the functions of the processing unit 512 of the read terminal 51 and a part or all of the functions of the storage unit 513, respectively.

For example, the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 may perform the construction completion report generation step and/or the connection completion report generation step (instead of the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51). In this case, the connection completion determination step and/or the construction completion determination step may be performed by the processing unit 512 of the reader terminal 51 or may be performed by the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52.

When the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 performs the connection completion determination step and/or the construction completion determination step, the storage unit 523 of the remote terminal 52 stores in advance the correspondence information in which the joint identification codes CC of the plurality of pipe joints 1 and the pipe body identification codes PC of the plurality of pipe bodies 4 constituting the piping construction management system 5 are associated one by one.

Alternatively, in each of the examples described above with respect to the second embodiment, an output unit (not shown) provided in the reader terminal 51 may have a part or all of the functions of the output unit 524 of the remote terminal 52, and the processing unit 512 and the storage unit 513 of the reader terminal 51 may have all of the functions of the processing unit 522 of the remote terminal 52 and all of the functions of the storage unit 523, respectively. In this case, the piping construction management system 5 may not include the remote terminal 52.

Thus, for example, in a case where the display portion 515 of the reader terminal 51 constitutes an output portion in the same manner as the display portion 524a of the remote terminal 52 described above, when the reader terminal 51 is transported to a person (for example, a construction manager or the like) at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually recognized, the person can confirm connection by viewing a construction completion report and/or a connection completion report displayed on the display portion 515 of the reader terminal 51. Alternatively, when the output unit of the reading terminal 51 includes the site output unit 524b, a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually checked can access the predetermined WEB site from any terminal (the reading terminal 51, the remote terminal 52, or another terminal) and view the construction completion report and/or the connection completion report displayed on the terminal to confirm connection. Alternatively, in the case where the output unit of the reading terminal 51 includes the printing unit 524c, when a medium such as paper on which a construction completion report and/or a connection completion report is printed by the printing unit 524c is transported to a person who is at a position where the pipe joint 1 cannot be visually observed, the person can confirm connection by viewing the construction completion report and/or the connection completion report printed on the medium such as paper.

Industrial applicability

The pipe joint, the pipe construction management system, and the pipe construction management method according to the present invention can be suitably used for pipes for water supply, hot water supply, and the like, for example.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a pipe joint; 11: a cap; 111: an axial first side portion of the cap; 112: an axial second side portion of the cap; 112a, 112b: a fitting recess; 12: a resin ring (annular member); 121: a card-holding section; 13: a locking pawl (annular member); 13a: a claw portion; 14: a sealing member; 15: an outer cylinder member (annular member); 15a: a window portion; 151: an extension portion (outer cylindrical portion) of the outer cylindrical member; 151a, 151b: a fitting protrusion; 151c: a stopper protrusion; 152: an axial direction second side portion of the outer cylindrical member; 16: an insertion space; 17: a body member; 171: an axial first side portion (inner cylindrical portion) of the main body member; 171a: an annular groove; 172: an axial direction second side portion of the body member; 172a: a threaded portion; 173: a torque input portion of the body member; 174: a small-diameter portion of the main body member; 175: a large diameter portion of the body member; 176: an axial direction intermediate portion of the body member; 18: inserting the connector; 19: displaying; 2: a pipe joint main body portion; 3: an insertion confirmation member; 4: a tube body; 5: a piping construction management system; 51: reading a terminal; 511: a communication unit; 512: a processing unit; 513: a storage unit; 514: a reading section; 515: a display unit; 516: an input section; 52: a remote terminal; 521: a communication unit; 522: a processing unit; 523: a storage unit; 524: an output section; 524a: a display unit; 523b, a step of mixing: a website output unit; 524c: a printing section; 525: an input section; ID: the direction of insertion; PD: the pull-out direction; o: a tube axis of the tube joint; CC: a joint identification code; PC: a tube body identification code; m: piping diagram.

Claims

1. A pipe joint in which an insertion space for inserting a pipe body from one side in an axial direction is formed, the pipe joint comprising:

an insertion confirmation member that is housed in the insertion space, the insertion confirmation member being configured to be movable in the insertion space by a thrust force received from the tube when the tube is inserted into the insertion space; and

2. The pipe coupling according to claim 1,

the plurality of joint identification codes are arranged in a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion confirmation member.

3. The pipe joint according to claim 1 or 2,

the joint identification code is a two-dimensional code or a one-dimensional code.

4. The pipe joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the joint identification code includes identification information unique to the pipe joint.

5. A piping construction management system comprising a plurality of pipe joints according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a plurality of pipe bodies, a reading section, a processing section, and an output section,

6. A piping construction management method using the piping construction management system according to claim 5, comprising:

7. A piping construction management system is provided with: a plurality of pipe joints each formed with an insertion space for inserting a pipe body from one side in an axial direction; a plurality of said tubes; a reading section; a processing unit; a storage unit; and an output section for outputting the output signal,

wherein each of the plurality of pipe joints includes:

a pipe identification code including information on each of the plurality of pipes is provided on an outer peripheral surface of each of the plurality of pipes,

8. The piping construction management system according to claim 7,

the processing unit is configured to cause the output unit to output a construction completion report when it is determined that the reading unit has read all of the joint identification codes and the pipe body identification codes in pairs corresponding to the correspondence information.

9. A piping construction management method using the piping construction management system according to claim 7 or 8, comprising:

a tube body identification code reading step in which the reading section reads the tube body identification code; and